Afternoon before the wedding

I can’t actually believe that we are here again. When I left Frital I was certain the next time I’d get to see it would be in the far future, but now that seems like a distant dream. It is almost winter now, but Frital doesn’t really get cold, being close to the coast. It snowed only once during my life, but it isn’t such an uncommon occurrence that people do not know what snow is. The parts near the border of Basinea get regular snowfall during winters. We’ve gone to the Royal Residence there on occasions and it was a wonderful experience.

Cerolus is sprawled on his back, his suit of armour clanking as he shifts from one resting position to the next. To my utter shock and amazement, he still chose the wear the armour during the travels but promised me he won’t do so tomorrow at the wedding. I can only hope that much becomes true.

As we slowly approach the Palace, I am overtaken by sudden panic and excitement. I haven’t been away from my family for more than a week before I met Cerolus, and now it’s already been three months. Have they changed some since I left? How will they react to me now?

Cerolus slowly shifts forwards, taking a sitting position on his side of the carriage. “You ready?” In my overthinking, I only just now notice that we’ve already stopped and that the carriage doors are opening. I can only slowly nod as Cerolus exits the carriage. I take a deep breath and take his hand, ready to see the Palace again.

As soon as I step on the ground and try to take a look at my surroundings someone collapses with me and knocks some air out of my lungs. My back bends and my arms instinctively reach for the small person while his small arms open in a wide hug. My little brother’s voice is muffled by his chin poking into my stomach.

“Oh, I missed you so much, Johnny!” After almost a minute of hugging incessantly, I straighten up and look over at his smiling face. “You better have behaved, or I will found out and tickle you to death!” I blurt out and reach for his sides as he struggles to escape while giggling at the same time.

I look up towards the rest of my family, my other brothers and Father standing in place without uttering a single word. I run over to them, hugging them one after another, tears welling in my eyes.

Cerolus comes over and bows slightly in front of my family. “Father in law. Brothers.” The tension in the air is palpable, as only Renald approaches Cerolus to give him a proper welcome. Father, on the other hand, wordlessly turns around and leaves, muttering something under his breath. I turn to Gavin for any explanation to Father’s cold behaviour.

“Just leave him be,” is all I got for an answer.

Renald and Cerolus seem to be exchanging pleasantries quite peacefully if I may add. I turn around, noticing that there is one person missing. “Is Magdalene here?”

“In her room,” Gavin answers absentmindedly, staring at Cerolus and Renald making small talk about our travels. I approach Cerolus, trying to get into the conversation for a brief moment.

“Would you mind if I go see my sister?”

“Go, see your family. I’ll be perfectly fine on my own here,” Cerolus answers briskly, again turning to my brother. “Actually, would you be so kind to show me to your dining room? We’ve travelled for quite a while, and I myself am getting a bit peckish.”

“Why sure, I’ll get someone to lead you there. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you now, there is apparently a wedding to plan,” my brother shows his brightest smile, the one I always envied. He always got whatever he wanted with that smile.

“Of course, I understand. I’ll see you later then.” As Renald begins to leave, Cerolus turns towards me, “and I’ll see you later if I don’t get lost here,” he says sizing up the Palace with his eyes.

My attention then turns completely towards going to see Magdalene, as I almost run through familiar halls and past paintings I’ve seen for the most of my life. I reach the closed doors of her room and, unaware of any possible consequences, push them open.

What I forgot to ask Gavin before is if Magdalene came alone again.

I quickly turn away and cover my eyes as if it would help to stop etching the image of my sister naked, straddling the Duke of Lesthoria, into my head.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t see anything!” I try to touch the door and close it with one hand, while the other is securely over my eyes. I manage to do it sloppily and then run to the dining room, hoping none of this sticks in anyone’s memory.

What was I thinking? I should’ve knocked in the least. I run into the dining room, where Cerolus has hogged most of the food from the table.

“Weren’t you on your way to see your sister?”

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“I… got hungry all of a sudden.” Yeah, let’s go with that Sophia. Brilliant as always. Cerolus simply shrugs and continues gorging on food. I sit down next to him, trying my best to look as innocent and inconspicuous as possible.

The dinner passes quickly with none of my family there to dine with us or at least keep the conversation going. The food is somewhat bland now compared to what I got used to at home. It’s like there is some part of it missing somehow, some strange flavour that I can’t properly describe.

Wait, why did I use that word – home? Shouldn’t this be my home, the place where I’m from? Have I got used to living a married life with Cerolus this fast? What does the word ‘home’ exactly entail? I’m here, yet Renald and Gavin have barely spoken to me, I haven’t seen Father for more than a minute and Magdalene… of Gods, how will I ever forget that?

Cerolus gets up from the table, stretching his arms, still wearing the armour. “Well, I’m going to go on a run. Better care to not get fat! Then you won’t like me as much.” He grins towards me, and my face flushes with heat. Luckily, no one is looking directly at us.

The same moment he leaves, a guard approaches me. “Milady, Lady Magdalene has asked for you.”

Oh Gods, please make me disappear.

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I enter the room like a rabbit would enter the wolves’ den. Carefully, and aware of any sudden movements.

“Relax, you’ll be fine.” I flinch at the sound of my sister’s voice then turn in the direction I heard it from. “Gabriel’s not here.”

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude. I was just so excited to see you again that I…” I almost start crying when Magdalene comes over and hugs me gently.

“I missed you so much, Soph,” she looks at me with a sombre look on her face. She always looked prettier than me. Her nose is prettier, her eyes are a much more vibrant colour, her face seems so gentle and kind. I, however, got teased for looking like a boy when I was younger. Even now, when she is frowning, she looks pretty. “It must’ve been terrible these past three months for you. I couldn’t even imagine what you were going through.”

She shoves me into a chair and has a lady-in-waiting bring us some tea.

“Now, tell me everything that’s wrong with the bastard.”

How do I explain that Cerolus is… great?

“He’s… not bad, actually.”

“What do you mean? Are you being followed, so you can’t say anything? Do we have to check for spies? Is he hurting you? I swear to the Gods, if he’s hurting you…” Magdalene already went on a ramble.

“No, no, wait, stop,” I wave my arms around, trying to calm her down. Shouldn’t I be the hysterical one? “It’s not like that.” Nowhere near like that, if I were to be precise.

“He is…” how do I even start? “…nice.”

“Nice?” Magdalene asks incredulously, cutting and dissecting the word as she speaks.

“Yes. He’s nice. Nowhere near those stories we’d heard from the War. He had an entire castle built for us.” I try to remember everything that happened in the past 3 months. “He allowed me to continue my training; gave me this beautiful dress; introduced me to his family.” Although I will skip that part of the story. “He’s even teaching me magic, Magdalene! Real magic! It’s wonderful.” Magdalene is awestruck by my words, like her image of him is completely shattered.

“So, he didn’t hurt you?” I shake my head. “Has he… asked you to…” I shake even more furiously this time. “Really? So, you haven’t…”

“No, he said he won’t force me if I don’t want to.”

“So he must be having a mistress.”

“He said he’s not going to have anyone unless I agree with it.” At this point, I believe Magdalene is thoroughly confused. I think this will be a lengthy talk.

-----------------

“He’s what?” Magdalene has started to sip some brandy in her tea at this point.

“Yes, but he doesn’t really look that old. And he told me it’s not going to be a problem.”

My sister just keeps repeating the number over and over again, like saying it more would make it smaller. Or bigger, I’m not sure which one of those she wants. “One-ninety-four. By Selina. You married a relic.”

I had to laugh at that. “I guess I did.”

“So, you’re completely fine? And you’re happy?”

“Yes.” I actually think I am happy now. Everything bad that had happened with Cerolus has been vastly overshadowed by the good he brought into my life.

“So, are you going to do it?” Magdalene, now already a bit cheeky from the stronger drink, is waving her arms around with decreasing control.

“Do what?”

“Sleep with him, of course.”

“Magdalene!”

“What, I’m just saying. You’re happy, you obviously like him and he seems to like you as well. Why not just do it?”

I try to dig further into the chair as I ponder my options.

Does he seriously want me? He did mention it, but maybe that was a passing thought. What if I’m not good enough?

“I see you don’t really know the answer yourself.

Well, it’s getting late. Tomorrow is a big day, and we have to get some sleep.

Not to mention the special guest that we’re having.”

“Special… guest?” Renald didn’t mention anything in the letter. Actually, the letter was quite vague at best.

“Didn’t you know? We’ll have an Elf spellcaster join us for the wedding. She’s a noble of some sort, and this is meant to ‘encourage friendly relations’ with the Elvin and everything.”

“Is she here already?” I’ve seen only one Elf on occasion. It’s said they were the best when it comes to magic, although I’m pretty certain they were the ones saying it. I can’t even properly remember how they look like.

“No, she’s arriving tomorrow morning, just in time for the wedding.”

I hear a knock on the door and both of us stand up to see the person entering. It’s Magdalene’s husband, Gabriel. Only, now he is clothed.

“Oh, you’re here, Maggy.” Maggy? Is that how he calls her? Sounds cute.

“Hey!” she raises her voice briefly but giggles nevertheless.

“And Sophia, long time no see.” He approaches and kisses my hand briefly. “Well except for…”

“Let’s not mention that again.” I try to stay away from that subject. “Please,” I whisper the last word, almost afraid of someone hearing what we’re talking about.

“No complaints there.”

“I should probably go. It’s already getting late, I need a proper bath and Cerolus might actually start looking for me.

Good night.”

I leave the room and go for the baths, and after I’m cleaned, head for the bed.

With my nightgown on, I slither under the warm sheets of my bed, until I hit something soft.

I look up to see Cerolus sleeping soundly in the bed. Last time he was here he didn’t sleep at all.

I push myself into his chest and his arms slowly come around me, locking me in his embrace.

Now, what could possibly go wrong tomorrow?